Shanghai: In a disturbing incident at the Shanghai airport, Chinese immigration authorities denied an Indian woman’s right to continue her journey, citing her place of birth—Arunachal Pradesh—as the reason.
Arunachal Pradesh, a disputed region, is claimed by both India and China. The woman, Prema Wang Thongdak, from Arunachal Pradesh, was subjected to harassment and held for 18 hours after her passport was deemed invalid by Chinese officials.
Prema, who had boarded a flight from London to Japan on November 21, was in transit at Shanghai airport for a three-hour layover when the incident occurred. Her Japan visa was in order, but immigration officers at the airport detained her after noticing her place of birth listed as Arunachal Pradesh.
“China does not recognize Arunachal Pradesh as part of India; it is considered part of China,” the officers allegedly stated, invalidating her passport. Despite Prema presenting all necessary documents, including her Japan visa, she was told that her passport was invalid because of the Arunachal Pradesh issue.
The situation escalated when the officers mockingly suggested she should apply for a Chinese passport. “I requested permission to board my flight, but they refused, even though the flight was about to depart. I was held for 18 hours without any facilities or assistance,” Prema later said, expressing her frustration.
The Indian Embassy in Shanghai intervened after Prema contacted them through her friends in London. With the help of the Indian diplomats, she was eventually allowed to continue her journey. However, she criticized China’s actions, stating that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and accusing China of using this issue to harass Indian nationals.
“This kind of treatment is unacceptable. India must take this matter seriously,” Prema said, urging the Indian government to address the ongoing harassment related to Arunachal Pradesh. The incident has once again highlighted the ongoing territorial dispute between India and China over the region.
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